Woods Glass specialize in providing glass and glazing systems, working in conjunction with our parent company Thermosash Commercial Limited, we provide an impressive range of glazing façade and structural glass systems. We are leaders in commercial contract glazing and work with a range of national and international suppliers to provide leading edge glass and glazing technology and façade systems.

Façade Glazing

Woods Glass provide glass and glazing expertise for factory glazing of Thermosash unitised façade systems. Our factory production lines are especially set out to maximise production of unitised curtain walls using structural silicone glazing (SSG) technology. We work closely with sealant suppliers like Dow Corning to ensure quality controls procedures and warranties are maximised. - What you see on a building is created with care in our building

Structural Glazing

Structural glazing is a term that refers to the use of glass as a structural member (structural glass). Traditionally they are known as toughened glass assemblies, but more recently more advance toughened laminated glass solutions are used for added safety.

Most structural glass systems (SGS) are "bespoke" designs using one or more of the following systems;

Ground based systems

Suspended assembly systems

Fully fixed systems

Glass fin systems

Tension truss systems

Tension cable systems

Structural glass systems use a variety of fittings from patch fittings to modern Spider or special cast or fabricated fittings. Woods glass specialise in the design and supply of fittings and are not afraid to make a bespoke fitting for a project. – You draw it – we make it happen.

Total Vision Systems (TVS)

Typically TVS is a structural glass wall with or without glass fins to provide as much transparency as possible. Structural silicone joints are used to join the panes and glass fins and these are normally in black as clear silicone is actually translucent and has a tendency to look yellow and dirty over time.

Traditional TVS systems used thick annealed glass and fins but more recently they tend to use toughened or toughened laminated glass.

Frameless Doors

Toughened glass doors have a long history and a range of available fittings and closers which have evolved for these “frameless doors”, as they are known. However they are not always frameless as they often contain door rails and can have edge sections as seals.

Typical Pivot types are;

Type A doors – Rails top and bottom

Type B doors – Patch fittings top and rail on bottom

Type C doors – Patch fittings top and bottom

Frameless doors can also use a range of hinges and modern versions are hydraulic and operate as closer so floor springs are not require. In addition pole support systems and fittings can be used as well as bar supported sliding systems. – If you have an opening we can close it with glass.

Auto Doors

Auto doors are normally sliding, but operators exist for pivot doors. There are a wide range of Automatic sliding doors systems and opening functions, and Woods Glass work with specialist systems as often our project use very big and heavy doors. Care is required in design to ensure the auto door gear is secure and in special cases we have fitted the gear to structural glass panes and/or fins. – If you want to slide it – we can auto it.

Folding Stacking Doors

The most impressive way to open a wall is to use folding and stacking door systems that slide and fold or stack out of the way into a parking bay. In special cases they can even be automatic. A range of systems are available depending on the size and design, and typically toughened safety glass is used in 10, 12, 15 to 19 mm thickness. It is important to understand that they are still frameless doors and are not weather tight, even though seals can be fitted to the vertical edges and top and bottom rails.

Frameless Showers

Traditionally frameless showers are custom built using 8, 10, 12mm thick toughened safety glass with special hinges, channels and brackets. There are common configurations and sizes to fit standard shower enclosures but custom showers are common in high end houses and commercial projects. In recent times low iron glass is used for clarity and a range of coatings to keep the glass clean. Special effects are possible with digital printed glass and special PET film laminated glass along with painted glass wall lining. - If you want a shower we can enclose you with glass.

Canopies

Typically canopies over building entries, exits and shopfronts are made from glass. The glass can be supported in traditional glazing bars or supported by steels frames or with spider fittings or the like. Woods Glass specialise in the design and glazing of commercial canopies on buildings as they are normally architecturally designed and project specific. Traditionally toughened or laminated safety glass was used, but recent changes in codes require more use of heat strengthened or toughened laminated glass. –Specific design canopies are us.

Rooflights and Skylights

Many architectural buildings require light into central spaces via rooflights and skylights - these spaces also require insulation. However they can cause over-heating and glare issues if they don’t use the correct glass, so Woods Glass provide a range of high performance low E IGUs with and without ceramic printed glass to provide a glazing solution. In additions these panes must support high wind loads and live loads for maintenance so the glass design is critical – Engineered performance glass rooflights are a must.

Balustrades

Balustrades are barriers and barriers are complex in design and nature. Barriers must comply with a range of building code clauses (B1,F2,F4,E2) and most designers want to design their own, when is most cases they can't. Therefore interaction with Woods Glass at the design stage is crucial to ensure the balustrade will be code compliant and provide the designers “look”.

The most important step is to determine the building occupancy from AS/NZS 1170 to ensure the correct design loads are used and some criteria can be very restrictive and significantly increase costs.

Toughened or laminated safety glass is used, with more recent trends using combined toughened laminated safety glass (TLSG) for added safety. Some TLSG can have a special rigid interlayer such as SGP which also provides better edge de-lamination protection.

Fences and Screens

Safety Glass can be used as fence or screen to protect from the wind or for water safety such as pool fences. Pool fences are 1200mm high to comply with the FSPA but can be higher. Screens are often built higher up to 2000mm or more but this can create high loads at the base fixing. If the glass safeguards a fall of 1m or more it is also a barrier and barriers loads apply. Woods Glass often custom design fences and screens using balustrades systems or be-spoke design. With pool fences special latching and locking gates are required.

Internal Partitions

Glass is common in internal partitions in buildings and it is normally clear glass with some form of manifestation or decoration. More recently decorative printed glass has been used with or without colour to provide distinction between office zones. Most partitions use 10 or 12 mm toughened or laminated safety glass and are fitted into proprietary aluminium frame systems, or simple channel glazing systems.

Mirror Lining/Cladding

Glass mirror has long been used to line or clad internal wall and often as the entire wall such as in gyms or dance studios. The ability of mirrors to enhance internal space should not be underestimated, and with modern safety mirror the applications increase.

Painted Glass Lining/Cladding

More recent trends have seen an increase of back painted glass often known as “splashbacks” from their use in kitchens. However painted glass is used for complete bathroom lining and even for kitchen doors. There is an unlimited range of colours and effects including metallic and printed glass, so designers can go crazy with special effects. Some painted glasses have been used externally but the UV stability must be checked.

Display Cases

Glass is ideal to display goods, services and special artefacts. The more recent trends have been to use low iron glass for high clarity but sometime anti reflection (AR) glass is used. UV bonding of glass is common in showcases and a range of special hinges and frames are available. Woods Glass have done extensive work in museums and art galleries where custom design is required.

Floor & Treads

Glass used in floors or pavers have long traditions for allowing light into the level below. Modern flat glass laminating processes allow thick multi-laminated glass to be used for floors and treads and even complete structural glass stairs as seen in Apple Stores worldwide.

Glass floors can have high uniform and concentrated loads applied from AS/NZS 1170 to comply with the building code so it important to determine this for the design process. To support the floors the frames are often steel and special glazing techniques are used to locate and seal the glass. In some cases slip resistance is required and this is usually done in combination with printed ceramic fritted glass. New laminating techniques such as the EVA process allow a range of decorative inserts for special effects.